Twins sign Drew Stubbs

[kemics]

Doubtful he is in to hit lefties considering Robbie Grossman beat up lefties decently last year. 

 

[Seth Stohs]

 

He used to be good, but he's hardly been seen in the last couple of years and UZR, DRS and dWAR all say he's at best average recently and that's putting it very kindly considering how many -'s are listed in front of those stats. The starting OF are good-to-excellent, the backup OF should be able to pinch hit or platoon considering the rest of the bench is lining up to quite possibly consist of Adrianza, Escobar and a backup catcher, there are much better options than Stubbs.

 

Hey, I'm giving the front office a pass this offseason and I've said so in just about every "sky is falling" thread; they inherited a mess. But I listed my preferred choices for OF options above, Ryan Raburn, Angel Pagan, Franklin Gutierrez or Marlon Byrd. I just have a hard time believing that either the gameplan or payroll for 2017 has room for just two MLB contracts. These signings are just bizarre, Stubbs in particular.

 

It's a minor league deal. If he's not good, he's not making the roster. But defense and speed are part of the game too. I'm willing to give it a chance. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

It's a minor league deal. If he's not good, he's not making the roster. But defense and speed are part of the game too. I'm willing to give it a chance. 

 

Well, his defense hasn't been good for some time. Not sure what this means.

 

And, we all know that there are limits to players in ST. Every vet that clogs up the area is one less young player invited.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Well, his defense hasn't been good for some time. Not sure what this means.

 

And, we all know that there are limits to players in ST. Every vet that clogs up the area is one less young player invited.

 

I mean, they already announced the players coming to camp. These are just additional. 

[nicksaviking]

 

It's a minor league deal. If he's not good, he's not making the roster. But defense and speed are part of the game too. I'm willing to give it a chance. 

 

And I have no problem with a minor league signing if I thought the team would still go after a better right handed outfielder. With Stubbs and Grossman already in tow, this looks like it is it though. Also, a free agent may prefer not to have to come in and compete with two other guys for a bench gig.

[DJSim22]

I don't see any problem with this signing, although I would very surprised if he made the club longer than a DL stint. 

[jud6312]

 

Well, his defense hasn't been good for some time. Not sure what this means.

 

And, we all know that there are limits to players in ST. Every vet that clogs up the area is one less young player invited.

Classic sidestep - answer the question without answering the question or providing reason for said answer  

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

You can't actually be basing this off of his 2015 + 2016 major league plate appearances and think that proves a reverse split... 

And what would you use?

234 PA is not a large sample size, but it is not nothing. And further, it is all we have.

Reverse split? Hardly the point.

 

If we are going to get someone to give Rosario and Kepler a break now and then shouldn't it be someone who feasts on LH pitching? Stubbs doesn't do that.

[jorgenswest]

who would you sit against LHP?   The guy who is hitting .202/.271/.319 or the guy who is hitting .279/.308/.416 (Rosario) against them?   

 

Not sure that I get the bias against Rosario; the Mendoza line guy against LHP is Kepler...

I don't think I would use slash stats short of a split that has at least 500 PAs. They wouldn't support an argument about who should be sitting in a small sample.

[jorgenswest]

He's terrific defensively... ideal for a 5th OF spot, or a platoon righty that isn't an every-lefty platoon guy.

 

 

I believe he was a good defensive outfielder in 2012. In his last 4 seasons in CF which includes over 1300 innings he has had negative UZRs and an overall negative DRS. He has 876 career innings in RF with a negative UZR and DRS. He has played only 162 innings in LF with a positive career UZR and negative last year both mean little due to sample. I don't see anything to support your statement about his defense.

 

I would love to have the 2012 Drew Stubbs who was good defensively and brought value with the bat. That guy no longer exists. The Twins need to find better alternatives to bring to camp.

[DocBauer]

I am still very "meh" about this signing. I really would have gone a higher upside like Pagan, Jackson or one of a few other options. But I get what Falvey and Levine are doing here. You have a talented nucleus in place, and you bring in a few cheap options to see if something works and sticks, without compromising your roster or taking necessary AB from said young nucleus. Rochester has two nice looking OF in Granite and Palka who need to, and will, play every day, plus a new challenge and perhaps last chance for Harrison. You need more than that, and now you have a few guys to sort through to find someone to keep around.

 

Said it before and will say it again, this first season is about establishing a new culture, a new way of approaching and doing things, as well as a complete review of behind the scenes and on the field staff and ALL the players in the system. While I would have approached the 4th OF situation differently...and wish they had...I get their approach.

 

We're I a betting man, I would lay odds for another signing for the OF still, or a waiver claim sometime during or at the end of ST.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I am still very "meh" about this signing. I really would have gone a higher upside like Pagan, Jackson or one of a few other options. But I get what Falvey and Levine are doing here. You have a talented nucleus in place, and you bring in a few cheap options to see if something works and sticks, without compromising your roster or taking necessary AB from said young nucleus. Rochester has two nice looking OF in Granite and Palka who need to, and will, play every day, plus a new challenge and perhaps last chance for Harrison. You need more than that, and now you have a few guys to sort through to find someone to keep around.

Said it before and will say it again, this first season is about establishing a new culture, a new way of approaching and doing things, as well as a complete review of behind the scenes and on the field staff and ALL the players in the system. While I would have approached the 4th OF situation differently...and wish they had...I get their approach.

We're I a betting man, I would lay odds for another signing for the OF still, or a waiver claim sometime during or at the end of ST.

 

How do you plan to see if he can play defense in ST, as compared to the lat 4 years of data?

[alarp33]

 

And what would you use?

234 PA is not a large sample size, but it is not nothing. And further, it is all we have.

Reverse split? Hardly the point.

 

If we are going to get someone to give Rosario and Kepler a break now and then shouldn't it be someone who feasts on LH pitching? Stubbs doesn't do that.

 

Well its actually 124 PA, you were talking vs lefties, correct?  And yes, that is nothing.  

 

I never said Stubbs should make the team or take at bats from anyone. I laughed at the notion that his 124 PA over 2 seasons proves he can't hit lefties

[jorgenswest]

Well its actually 124 PA, you were talking vs lefties, correct?  And yes, that is nothing.  

 

I never said Stubbs should make the team or take at bats from anyone. I laughed at the notion that his 124 PA over 2 seasons proves he can't hit lefties

You certainly wouldn't use slash stats at that sample. You could look at strike out rate, walk rate and pitch level data. If those rates were close to the same as before 2015, you could be more confident that his skill level hasn't dropped. Unfortunately his strikeout rate against lefthanded pitching is over 40% since 2014. That isn't very encouraging.

[savvyspy]

I really like the signing, especially on a minor league deal. No risk... And... here's what I'd like to see...

 

vs RHP

 

1B - Mauer

DH - Vargas

LF - Rosario

 

vs LHP

 

1B - Vargas

DH - Grossman

LF - Stubbs

 

Stubbs can definitely play CF as a backup. Makes a ton of sense.

 

I hope they face 162 right handers then......

[USAFChief]

I hope they face 162 right handers then......

Face their own bullpen?

[DocBauer]

How do you plan to see if he can play defense in ST, as compared to the lat 4 years of data?

Not sure I understand your question Mike. I simply think it's a "meh" signing with potential. As previously stated...and many times before in other threads...I thought signing a quality 4th OF was one of the real ways you could improve the roster for 2017. Someone who could hit LH pitching and play solid defense in the corners, at least. Didn't have to play CF, but there were guys out there that could. And I still liked the idea of Grossman as the 5th OF who could play the OF here and there, but help more as a DH and PH.

 

As stated, I get what Stubbs and other similar signings are, AAA options and a shot in the dark to see if something clicks and sticks as a helpful piece. It happens. Guy gets healthy, finds himself again at the right time and place, and you invested next to nothing either way.

 

How would I evaluate his defense in ST compared to the last 4 years of data? By just watching him, and others brought in. You van either play and hit and contribute or not. Next move, milb camp or release. Harsh...but reality.

 

But I still get what Falvey and Levine are doing. I just don't agree with their handling of the 4th OF spot.